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Because it’s time

This is a bittersweet part of my journey. I’ve made the decision to sell my action figure collection.

These things used to mean the world to me. I couldn’t buy just one. If I bought one, I would buy the entire collection or series. They weren’t just investments. I wanted to eventually pass them down to my own kids. I wanted them to know how awesome the toys were “back in the day”.

Unfortunately, most of my toys that I grew up with in the 80s were trashed.

Welcome to my world

When I started working full time, buying toys from my childhood became a priority. Even in the early 2000s, action figures from that era were expensive, especially for ones that were still in their OG packaging. So I did the next best thing. I started collecting toys from the modern era.

This was a huge mistake. The reason that action figures from the 80s will always have value is that they were not mass produced. That all changed in the 90s and by the time I got around to becoming a serious collector, everything that I was buying was nearly worthless. These action figures were made by the million to be used and abused and destroyed. Obviously, I had no idea what I was getting myself in to.

I went through about a five year stretch where I bought all of the coolest toys that I could find. It wasn’t consumerism that drove me. I legitimately loved my toys. I kept them packed away but I took them out and admired them on a regular basis. I would keep a rotating display in my bedroom and make sure to wipe them off with a soft towel when their turn in the rotation was done.

I was so happy. As a collector, my tribe of inanimate objects was constantly growing. My credit card debt grew and I didn’t care. I was happy. I would talk about them with anyone who was dumb enough to listen to a grown man ramble on about his toy collection.

For real for real

This is the most upset I’ve ever been while typing up a post for WAPH. I’ve written some fairly personal stuff over the last several months but this one truly hurts. I had a feeling when this journey began that my toys were gonna have to move out of the house at some point.

So why am I so sad?

I really don’t know. My best guess is that I had a lot of shitty memories for that time period in my life. There were plenty of good but that collection represented the happiest of times for that era.

I’ve thought about selling them on several occasions. The answer has always been a “not yet”. I always say “I’ll save them for last”.

These things clearly have some deep sentimental value to me. Why pull the trigger now?

Because it’s time

I don’t display them anymore. They’ve lost a ton of value. Most of them are barely worth the retail price. I’m happily single and that’s never going to change.

Have you ever been to one of those funerals where all you could think about was how you wished that you would have spent more time with that person while they were alive? That’s what I’m feeling. I know it’s absurd. They’re just toys. But for a long time they were a huge part of my life.

And now it’s time to say goodbye. So do me a favor. Pour one out for my homies. I know I will.

And to my toys: I love you guys. I’ll never forget you. You will always be my legos.

I did the same thing with my first drum set. I got it for Christmas when I was 14. It was a vintage kit even then, and I used it in my first several bands. Lot of fond memories wrapped up in that. I hauled it around the country for 15 years, but it basically sat in protective cases in a closet for all but maybe three days over that time. I just couldn’t think of parting with it, but I also didn’t much care to use it because I had other options. Finally, this year, I realized that someone out there would get more true appreciation out of it today that I would, and I’ll still always have those good memories. I sold it for much less than what my emotional side thought I should, but realistically the market doesn’t deal in emotions, it deals in data. It’s been out of the house over six months, and I haven’t once regretted my decision. If anything, it’s been a sort of emotional weight lifted. Not so much that I was super invested, but that it was one of those possessions that always had a “Do not sell” sign on it in my mind and I finally broke through that. I hope you feel the same way when your collection makes it way out to become someone else’s cool new toy.

I had a collection of He-Man action figures and the Voltron lion set during the 80s. Those were fun to have at that time but i had to throw them away when i was approaching middle school because of wear and tear.
I had flashbacks of owning a voltron set again during college and bought one on Ebay for around $30. It was great to have it again for first week but realized i had outgrown my childhood and got tired of it. I decided to give it to my nephew and haven’t regretted since. I hope you have the same feeling and try to move on from your collections. Your wallet will be a bit thicker

I have had these feelings with my sports card collection, vinyl album collection, some toys, etc. I don’t know why I am emotionally attached to items as well. I can tell you so many memories around each item even though they just sit in boxes.

I have started to thin out these collections and the feeling has been great. I definitely enjoy the money from them but also still have my memories. I have not felt any regret and getting rid of a few items has helped me continue on, as if to say I will make it and be fine.

I think this is just heart-wrenching and so applicable to so many. When I was 9, my family had our house destroyed in a house fire. Since then, I’ve wrestled many, many times with what is important to keep and what can be let go. I’ve kept many things for my child, only to discover 40 years later that she truly doesn’t give a crap. But I keep some it anyway. Collections are an investment; emotional, time, and money. Letting them go is difficult and I hope you held a few particularly sentimental ones back for yourself. If not, tell me which ones and I’ll go get them for you. Great post that hit me in the feels. I’m sending my Twitter BF a hug!